Upton: BVT prepares for new school year

UPTON - Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School is welcoming the largest freshman class in school history as students return from summer vacation on Monday.

The school held a picnic Thursday to help the 310-member class ease into the new year, said Superintendent Michael Fitzpatrick.

"Last year, we got a couple thousand people (at the welcome picnic)," he said. "They all come in and get a free hot dog or hamburger."

Fitzpatrick said the event is not the only way the school hopes to help the new students acclimate to high school.

"We had 140 juniors come in, on a volunteer basis, to plan mentoring and greeting activities for the freshmen," he said. "We want to ensure they feel welcome and comfortable."

Blackstone Valley Tech is traditionally one of the first public schools in the state to begin classes, Fitzpatrick said. He noted that the school's staff officially reported on Wednesday.

"Our 193-day teaching year is the longest in the state," he said. "It's always good to get a head start."

The state requires students to attend 180 days of school per year.

Although Fitzpatrick said the long year can make for a short summer, he added that the district has been busy over the break.

"There have been improvements made to the (athletic) field," he said. "Our coaches have been working feverishly to schedule games and ensure we stay off the field until it takes root."

Fitzpatrick also said the school has built a space for backhoe simulators and created a transition room.

"It's for students returning from long absences or illness," he said. "It gives them a chance to ease back to school in a comfortable setting."

Although member towns did not support a $2.9 million expansion that would have led to the creation of three new programs, the school, Fitzpatrick said, has begun to take steps toward the creation of an engineering program.

"We're doing things on a very gradual basis," he said.

Mike Gleason can be reached at 508-634-7546 or mgleason@wickedlocal.com. For news throughout the day, follow him on Twitter @MGleason_MDN.